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ISLAMABAD, Nov 04 (APP): Federal Minister for Housing and Works Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada informed the Senate on Tuesday that four officials of the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) had been suspended for their alleged involvement in irregular payments of compensation to unauthorized or illegal affectees of Sector G-14/1, Islamabad.
Responding to a question during the Question Hour, the minister said that the suspension was made following the recommendations of a fact-finding inquiry into the 8th partial award of 26 built-up properties in the sector.
The officers suspended include Yasir Qayyum Khan (DC/LAC), Muhammad Irfan Dogar (Tehsildar), Muhammad Waqas (Assistant), and Ubaid Ishaq (Sub-Engineer). “Criminal proceedings against the accused officials are currently under process in the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA),” he informed the House.
On the issue of pending payments, the minister said that compensation had been released to more than 90 percent of the legal affectees and property owners who approached FGEHA for the purpose. “The remaining affectees are being paid as and when they submit their claims in accordance with the law,” he added.
Responding to a supplementary question regarding the dilapidated condition of Officers’ Colonies and possible redevelopment plans, Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada clarified that there was no immediate plan to rebuild or demolish the existing structures. “At present, no planning or proposal is under consideration because many housing projects under FGEHA and PHA are already stalled,” he explained.
He said that the government’s current focus was on reviving delayed projects and ensuring pending payments to around 35,000 officers and affectees, particularly after the Islamabad High Court’s recent decision in favour of the FGEHA regarding sectors G-14 and G-15.
The minister also informed the House that the Cabinet had recently approved an 85 percent increase in the house rent ceiling for federal officers, which would be implemented shortly.
“We are determined to complete stalled projects first rather than starting new schemes that might face the same issues as in the past,” he said, emphasizing a policy of prudent and accountable development in the federal housing sector.